Alternative Jewelry
Pearl Jewelry
Pearl jewelry is incredibly versatile. As the June birthstone, pearls are a perfect gift for the June bride or the college graduate. Whether an anniversary gift, a birthday gift or for a special sweet sixteen, pearls make a beautiful elegant gift.
Pearls have become more affordable with the development of cultured pearls. Six factors determine a pearls value: shape, luster, surface texture, nacre thickness, color and size. Understanding each of these features and how they affect the price of a pearl will help you buy the pearl jewelry that is right for you.
Luster describes a pearls sheen, how the light plays off of the layer of nacre.High quality pearls have an even reflection, with a warm radiance or glow. Pearls with a dull sheen are of lower quality. Luster can reflect the origin of a pearl. South Sea and Tahitian pearls tend to have a more diffused and softer reflection. Akoya pearls typically have a luster that is higher, making them more expensive than the South Sea and Tahitian pearl.The reflection from the surface of the pearl determines its color. The reflected light that comes from deep within the pearl gives the pearl an inner color, an overtone. White pearls that have a pink or silver overtone are the most valuable. With dark pearls, the most valuable color is black with a blue or green overtone. Having pearls that are matched in both size and color will make the piece more valuable than jewelry with mismatched pearls.
A smooth surface is found in high quality pearls, no imperfections in the surface or color. A typical pearl necklace will be having its larger pearls strung in the center, with the pearls getting smaller as they approach the clasp. A more valuable necklace will have pearls that all of the same size. Pearls are typically assigned one of four grades: AAA+, AAA, AA, A. When you are buying pearl jewelry, ask about the quality of the pearls features, how it has been graded and what the grading is. By knowing how pearls are valued, you can be confident that you are getting your moneys worth when buying pearl jewelry.
Gemstone Jewelry
Even though gemstones are among the most durable of substances, they still require some tender loving care. To keep your precious jewelry in mint condition, just a few simple steps and precautions will help you achieve your goal.
The reason why even the hardest gemstone variety can be vulnerable to breakage is if it has inclusions. All gemstones are natural occurring rock forms, so it is only natural for stones to have inclusions. To avoid your jewelry from becoming dull, apply cosmetics, hairspray, cologne or perfume before putting on gemstone jewelry.
So remember to remove your jewelry when going for a swim in the pool.After wearing, it is a good practice to wipe your precious gemstone jewelry thoroughly with a soft, clean and slightly damp flannel or chamois cloth to remove dirt and oil. Not only will this small action of cleaning your jewelry after each wear ensure that your jewelry is clean, it will also help to enhance the gemstone’s shine.
It is a cleaning device that uses ultrasound together with an appropriate cleaning solution to clean delicate items such as jewelry. Be extra careful when using an ultrasonic cleaner. Harder gemstones such as diamonds and rubies will be fine, however some gemstones that are more fragile such as coral, opal, lapis lazuli, pearl, or turquoise can be damaged.
When storing your jewelry, make sure that each piece of gemstone jewelry is kept separately and away from sunlight so that they will not scratch against each other and to prevent the gemstones colour from fading. If gemstone jewelry are not stored properly and thrown into a heap in a jewelry box, gemstones will easily scratch the finish on your platinum, silver or gold.
It is also important to store bead necklaces and bracelets flat as silk stretches over time. Stretched bead jewelry will easily come apart.Excessive humidity can make pearls soft and cause them to become misshapen. Freshwater pearls in particular are sensitive to this problem. Please do not store them in a plastic bag! Plastic bags can trap moisture which can cause serious damage to your pearl jewelry.By giving just a little time to care for your jewelry on a daily basis, your jewelry will be in mint condition for a longer period of time
Fashion Jewelry
Everyone wants a treasured piece of jewelry. People do not realize that if they cannot afford the real deal, there are more options. Fashion jewelry is making a splash! No longer do you have to scrimp and save in order to buy a necklace. There is the less expensive option of fashion jewelry.A common misconception is that fashion jewelry is too fake looking.
Most people think that this title comes along with only costume jewelry or play jewelry for little kids. Yes, there is definitely plenty of the fake stuff that looks, well, fake. There is the play and costume jewelry. Little girls wrap plenty of these fake beads around them all day. There is however, nicer “fake” jewelry. You do not have to only spend ridiculous amounts of money to achieve the status of having a nice piece of jewelry.Fashion jewelry comes in all different types.
There are of course diamonds and pearls, and all the imitations of the different stones. A lot of people nowadays opt for a piece of fashion jewelry. You do not only have to wear an expensive piece of jewelry to make a statement. Even with fashion jewelry, you can do this.Buying fashion jewelry gives you the ability to have a selection of different items. For every other time, you can buy a variety of fashion jewelry, whether at an office party, a night out with friends, or even a baseball game.
The possibilities are endless!Just about anyone you seen wearing jewelry on a regular day, are not wearing a real diamond or pearl. It is highly accepted and recommended. It has become an acceptable fashion statement that saves you money. There is no longer reason to be ashamed if you cannot afford a new necklace for your friend’s wedding; or an event where everyone will be wearing beautiful new jewelry. Majority of those people are wearing fashion jewelry! You are saving money and still being fashionable. All in good time. You will get that gorgeous diamond and pearl necklace you have your eye on, one day. In the mean time, why not go with a cheaper option? It’s still a beautiful first choice, and nobody will know the difference!
